Six mindfulness and meditation apps to try if you’re anxious or stressed

Life can be tough at the best of times and at the moment, things are even more stressful than normal.

It's important to keep on top of it, for your own wellbeing and that of your loved ones, so if you need to find a way to unwind and restore some calm here are six meditation and mindfulness mobile apps to try in the UAE.

Aura

If you need short, simple meditation in your life then Aura is a great choice. With daily micro-meditations that last three minutes, the meditations can help you to reduce stress and anxiety. You can also track your daily mood, keep a gratitude journal and listen to the sounds of nature, too. You can even turn meditation into a game with daily challenges as you ‘level up’ through using the app. If you’re limited for time then give this one a try.Free seven-day trial, Dhs20 per month, Dhs220 for a year. Available on Apple and Android devices.

Breethe

This free app follows you throughout the day from waking up to going to sleep, and provides you with supportive tools to help you stay on track with meditation practices. There's a selection of five-minute meditations to help you overcome pressure and find inner peace. It has a customisable interface where you can save your favourites.Free. Available on Apple and Android devices.

Calm

This nifty app features calming sounds from the outdoors from the outset and offers daily calm sessions that can help you unwind, refocus your attention and relax. There are also a number of guided videos on mindfulness from the likes of Stephen Fry and Matthew McConaughey. You can also check in with a daily mood tracker to see how you’re feeling each day. You need a subscription to access all the content but you can take advantage of a one-week trial to check it out before signing up.Dhs130 for the year. Available on Apple and Android devices.

Headspace

It’s one of the most popular apps on the market and we can see why. From the start you can select what you want to achieve by using the app, including managing stress, improving sleep or being more active. With more than 60 million members across the world you can join and learn the essentials of meditation and mindfulness in sessions that come in three, five or ten minute parts. You can also save your favourites to your device for when you’re offline, which is pretty great if you ask us.Dhs45 per month, Dhs225 for the year. Available on Apple and Android devices.

Portal

Need to truly escape? Close your eyes and open this app and you can transport yourself away from your busy life in the UAE. Instead of focusing on guided meditations, this sound-led app will transport you to beaches in Hawaii, by a log fire in the mountains and to many more locations where you can find some calm. The library of sounds are perfect for battling anxiety and helping you fall asleep at the end of a long day. There are also breathing exercises available to help you take back control and battle stress.Dhs20 for premium service. Available on Apple devices.

Simple Habit

Too busy to meditate? We definitely have days like that. This handy app offers short, five-minute guided meditations to help you chill out and find some focus even when life is going fast and there’s no time to slow down. Take five, plug in your headphones, reduce stress and find peace of mind. There are lots of different topics on offer too from post-argument relaxation, stress-free commuting, pre-date mindfulness and many more inbetween. There’s lots of content on offer for free and much more if you pay for the subscription.Free seven-day trial, premium from Dhs400. Available of Apple and Android devices.

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